Atkins provides construction management for Oklahoma turnpike system

Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is providing construction management services to help the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) implement its “Driving Forward” plan. OTA’s estimated $892 million expansion and improvement plan targets six critical turnpike projects, and Atkins is providing assistance on three of those projects. SNC-Lavalin acquired WS Atkins plc on July 3, 2017.

“We are committed to doing our part to make Oklahoma’s turnpike system safer and less congested, while providing commuters with the potential for shorter travel times,” said Atkins Project Manager Ira Barrow. “Drawing from our longtime relationship with OTA, and our past and ongoing turnpike work, we will successfully deliver our new project assignments.”

Atkins’ work on Driving Forward projects totals more than $20 million and includes the following Oklahoma turnpikes:

Southwest Kilpatrick Extension, John Kilpatrick Turnpike — The new seven-mile extension will connect southwest Oklahoma City and the metro area with the urban core. It will offer an alternate access to Will Rogers World Airport, the state’s busiest passenger airport, which is located southwest of the downtown area. Atkins will perform construction management, resident engineering and inspection services. The corridor extension is darted with school zones, residential areas, utilities, and major roadway intersections and interchanges. As a result, extensive planning and ongoing communication with OTA, contractors and the community will be pivotal action items.

Reconstruction and Safety Enhancements, Turner Turnpike — Since 2010, this 22-mile section of Turner Turnpike has been plagued by as many as 15 fatalities and more than 500 accidents. Once complete, improved lighting, wider lanes and additional travel lanes are anticipated to help improve safety. The enhancements will also create an urban corridor, making way for future truck-specific and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Atkins’ construction management and oversight services will cover road widening and new bridges that span a roughly 11-mile portion of the targeted section of roadway.

New Construction, Northeast Oklahoma County Loop — A reduction in drive time from the Oklahoma City metro area to Tulsa is expected with the new loop. Traffic congestion also may be minimized in Oklahoma City because of the 21-mile loop, which will link Interstates 40 and 44 (Turner Turnpike). As a subconsultant to Benchmark Construction Services, Atkins is providing construction management oversight for the Interstate 40 at Eastern Oklahoma County interchange and other future segments.

In addition to its newest project work related to the Driving Forward plan, Atkins has served for more than six years as an on-site representative for building, roadway and bridge assignments on four other OTA roadways: Cimarron Turnpike, Creek Turnpike, H.E. Bailey Turnpike and Indian Nation Turnpike.